Energy

Energy underpins human activity. But it is also the main driver of climate change. The production and consumption of energy account for about three-quartersOur World in Data – Where do global greenhouse gas emissions come from, 2020 of global human-caused emissions of Earth-warming gases as fossil fuels still meet about 80%International Energy Agency – Pathways for the energy mix, 2024 of global energy demand. Asia sits at the heart of this dilemma as the world’s largestInternational Energy Agency – Coal Demand, 2024 consumer of coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel. Yet the region is also where the future energy system is being forged. While oilmen in West Asia insistBloomberg – The Saudi Prince of Oil Prices Vows to Drill ‘Every Last Molecule’, 2021 that “every molecule of hydrocarbon will come out”, China leads the global expansion of renewable energy.
A mural adjacent to the headquarters of the Kuwait Oil Company depicts a group of men turning on an oil tap.

📷 A mural adjacent to the headquarters of the Kuwait Oil Company depicts a group of men turning on an oil tap. © Sebastian Castelier

Despite having one of the world's highest solar power potentials, Saudi Arabia still burns hundreds of millions of barrels of oil to generate electricity, making its power sector one of the most polluting globally.

Saudi Arabia dispatch: Burning oil for electricity

Despite having one of the world's highest solar power potentials, Saudi Arabia still burns hundreds of millions of barrels of oil to generate electricity, making its power....
Scrubbers allow ships to keep burning high-sulphur fuel, but Singaporean waters absorb the consequences. They contain the world’s highest concentration of washwater, a toxic industrial waste.

Singapore dispatch: The externality loop of marine fuels

Scrubbers allow ships to keep burning high-sulphur fuel, but Singaporean waters absorb the consequences. They contain the world’s highest concentration of washwater, a toxic industrial waste.....
Despite the rapid addition of renewable energy capacities, India's electricity has a dark side. Three-quarters of it is generated by burning coal, causing one of the worst air quality in Asia.

India dispatch: Power the 1.5 billion-people nation

Despite the rapid addition of renewable energy capacities, India's electricity has a dark side. Three-quarters of it is generated by burning coal, causing one of the worst....
As electricity consumption rises, nuclear and solar additions have not replaced fossil fuel–fired power plants; they have been added alongside the legacy infrastructure.

United Arab Emirates dispatch: Accumulation over displacement

As electricity consumption rises, nuclear and solar additions have not replaced fossil fuel–fired power plants; they have been added alongside the legacy infrastructure.....